Mike Vroom races to Dukes Dubai as EAM rooms

Dubai-based luxury property developer and holding company Seven Tides International has appointed Mike Vroom as executive assistant manager – rooms for Dukes Dubai on Palm Jumeirah.

A graduate of the International Hotel School of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, he will lead the rooms division operation for both the 273-room hotel and 227 hotel apartments, and brings with him extensive experience garnered from key roles in leading luxury properties in his native South Africa.

“I’m delighted to be in the Emirates and, more importantly, to be joining Seven Tides International. The property has a unique positioning and a strong standalone identity, and I look forward to working with my team and the senior management to put Dukes Dubai on the map as a luxury hotel with a difference,” said Vroom.

“Mike is a young dynamic hotelier with a proven track record in the key areas of revenue growth and business optimisation, as well as having an excellent operational eye for detail, which is something that will define the Dukes Dubai experience,” said Seven Tides International CEO Abdulla Bin Sulayem.

Vroom joins the Dukes team directly from a senior role with a duo of South African properties, the luxury boutique Queen Victoria Hotel and Dock House Hotel in Cape Town, where he was resident manager for both locations.

Prior to that, he was in charge of the entire rooms operation at the all-suite Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, which entailed hands-on responsibility across an extended remit including reservations, concierge, housekeeping, and the 24/7 butler service.

A highlight of his career progression to date, Vroom was previously manager of the hotel’s villas product, which he managed from pre-opening, as well as heading up the butler services team.

He also has estate management experience, which will prove extremely useful in the Dukes Dubai pre-opening phase, having worked for Sol Kerzner, owner of Kerzner International, as assistant estate manager at the Leeukoppie Estate in the Hout Bay area of Cape Town.

“We are also excited by Mike’s food and beverage background, as he has worked in some of South Africa’s best known fine dining establishments such as the Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town. As a great team player, I am confident that this will add even more value when it comes to creating a seamless relationship between rooms and F&B, and will wow our guests from day one,” said Dukes Dubai general manager Mete Atakuman.

Centrally located on the trunk of Palm Jumeirah, the 273-room hotel and 227 hotel apartments will offer leisure, conference and entertainment facilities including a rivate beach, indoor pool, outdoor infinity pool and gym, along with a number of food and beverage outlets.